MetroHealth Community Health Centers Secures Federal Funding to Strengthen Community-Based Care

MetroHealth Community Health Centers (MHCHC) was among 158 organizations nationwide selected to receive funding through a $102 million investment announced Thursday, August 13, by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Health Resources and Services Administration.

The award will provide MHCHC with additional resources to expand services, strengthen access to care and support the healthcare needs of uninsured and underinsured patients. MHCHC will receive a $650,000 grant and gain access to ongoing federal support.

"We've spent years listening to our communities, building trust and creating strong connections with the patients and families we serve," said Kate Fox Nagel, DrPH, MPH, CEO, MetroHealth Community Health Centers. "This designation helps us build on that foundation by expanding services, reaching more people and strengthening care in our neighborhoods."

MHCHC was established in 2018 through a partnership between The MetroHealth System and a patient-led community Board of Directors. In 2020, MHCHC became part of HRSA's Health Center Program as a Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike, meeting the same rigorous standards as federally funded health centers. The additional resources received through this award will help strengthen MHCHC's long-term ability to provide robust, community-based primary care and supportive services.

"Strong primary care prevents disease and gives Americans greater control over their health," HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in the announcement. "This $102 million investment will bring high-quality care to nearly one million more Americans, expand prevention and nutrition services, and help communities tackle chronic disease at its roots. We are giving more Americans the tools to live healthier lives and Make America Healthy Again."

Today, MHCHC provides care through a growing network of health centers and community programs, including:

• Bedford Health Center
• Broadway Dental Center
• Brooklyn Health Center
• Buckeye Health Center
• Collinwood Health Center
• Glenville Health Center
• The School Health Program
• Community programs and mobile clinics

Through its partnership with The MetroHealth System, MHCHC connects patients to a broader network of specialty care, hospital services and community resources while maintaining a strong focus on neighborhood-based care.

"When MHCHC was launched, we knew that lasting change would come from listening to communities and working alongside them," said MetroHealth President and CEO Christine Alexander-Rager, MD. "This milestone is the result of years of hard work, trust and collaboration. I'm grateful to everyone who helped make it possible and excited about what it means for the patients and neighborhoods we serve."